Introducing Michigan State University students to the history and religion, culture and civilization of the Jewish people

Giving to Jewish Studies at MSU

Jewish Studies offers a number of opportunities for targeted contributions and also welcomes discussion about creating new endowments. Currently, we seek to name and endow the program as a whole, to raise an endowment for a chair in Holocaust Studies at MSU, and to continue raising funds for a professional development endowment. Recently, we were given the Serling Visiting Israeli Scholar Fund to help partner with units on campus to bring in visiting Israeli scholars, thus extending our faculty resources and course offerings. Our Serling Visiting Israeli scholar this spring (2015) will be Alon Tal, an environmentalist, who will teach two classes in James Madison College. We are also interested to expand scholarship and internship endowments for students who seek to study in Israel. Existing endowments are below. Gifts are also welcome as undesignated gifts — to Michigan State University’s Jewish Studies Program.

For more information about giving to JSP, please contact Prof. Yael Aronoff, Director.

Endowed Chair in Holocaust Studies and European Jewish History

This past year the MSU Jewish Studies Program achieved a significant milestone by raising sufficient funds to establish an Endowed Chair in Holocaust Studies and European Jewish History at Michigan State. With a lead gift from the Audrey and William Farber Family Foundation of Franklin, Michigan in the amount of $1.5 million and matching gifts totaling $500,000, we were able to begin an international search for a professor to fill the Chair. The selection process is underway. The new Holocaust Chair will teach in MSU’s renowned James Madison College and in the Department of History. It will also be a new core position in Jewish Studies. This is one of only 20 such positions in the United States.

In order to make this position viable for many generations to come, we are seeking additional support between $500,000 and $1 million. All funds for this position are invested in an endowment that generates approximately 5% per year to be used for salary, benefits and research support. In order to recruit and hire the very best for this position we are asking your help to make sure that future generations of MSU students have the opportunity to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust. Interested donors with the capacity and passion to help can pay off a pledge of $10,000, $50,000, $100,000, $200,000 or any other amount over a three to five year period. Please contact us if this appeals to you.

Jewish Studies Discretionary (General) Fund

This fund enables the program to hire staff assistance and pay for operating expenses

Jewish Studies Endowment

This fund allows Jewish Studies to host speakers and sponsor symposiums and conferences

Michael and Elaine Serling And Friends Fund for Chair in Israel Studies

Michael and Elaine Serling and friends created an endowed fund for a position in Israel Studies, which has been filled since 2006. The endowment is in Jewish Studies and the position is sited in James Madison College. The position is held by Associate Professor Yael Aronoff. We continue to raise additional money for this fund to cover all benefits as well as salary and to increase research and travel assistance to the occupant. We continue to raise additional money for this fund to cover the increased salary and benefits of the faculty as she was promoted to associate professor from assistant professor.

Michael and Elaine Serling Israeli Culture Fund

This fund supports programming at MSU on subjects related to Israeli history, politics, society, language, and culture. With support from this fund, Jewish Studies offers an annual Modern Israel lecture, offers students and the community Israeli films and lectures, including an annual Israeli film festival and visiting film directors, and occasional visitor short courses on subjects related to Israel.

David and Sarah Rabin Fund for Holocaust Lecture

The late Professor Emeritus Al Rabin and Bea Rabin established this fund to honor their parents, David and Sarah Rabin, and to provide for an annual Holocaust lecture. The Rabin lecture serves as the centerpiece of annual Holocaust commemoration and study at Michigan State University. The Rabin lecture has been offered each spring for more than twenty years and has drawn some of the top scholars in Holocaust studies, including historians, literature scholars, filmmakers, and creative artists.

Stanley and Selma Hollander Fund for Jewish Arts and Music

This fund provided by Selma Hollander and in memory of Professor Emeritus Stanley Hollander supports programming annually related to the Jewish arts and music, including support for an annual lecture or performance.

This fund donated by industrialist Ed Levy Jr. supports student leaders at Michigan State University studying in Israel. The Levy Scholarship currently offers $2500 for summer study, and $3000 for semester or $5000 for academic year study to qualified students for study in Israel.

Ed and Dot Slade Scholarship for Study in Israel

This fund donated by alumnus Ed Slade supports students at Michigan State University with an athletic background for study in Israel. The Slade scholarship currently offers $1500 for summer study and $2000 for semester study to qualified students for study in Israel.

Serling Visiting Israeli Scholar Endowment

This fund supports efforts by the Jewish Studies Program to partner with other academic units at MSU to bring in visiting Israeli scholars to strengthen our faculty resources and expand course offerings in Jewish Studies.

Kenneth Waltzer Jewish Studies Faculty Professional Development and Enrichment Fund

This fund, when completed, will support faculty professional development in Jewish Studies, including travel to professional meetings, travel to archives, travel to do research and interviews, and participation in special programs.

Fund for Yiddish Language and Culture

Established by an anonymous donor, the Fund for Yiddish Language and Culture promotes knowledge and pleasure in the Yiddish language and culture. With support from the fund, Jewish Studies offers students and the community one or more programs on subjects related to Yiddish language and culture annually.

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Giving Opportunities

If you have interest in donating to our Program, please contact us or you may donate online